SolidWork 2013 - Dimensioning Sketch And Some Advance Technnic

DIMENSIONING THE SKETCH

Toolbar: Sketch > Dimension

Menu: Tools > Dimension

After drawing the sketches and adding the relations, dimensioning is the most important step in creating a design. As mentioned earlier, SolidWorks is a parametric software. The parametric nature of SolidWorks ensures that irrespective of the original size, the selected entity is driven by the dimension value that you specify. Therefore, when you apply and modify a dimension on an entity, it is forced to change its size in accordance with the specified dimension value. The type of dimension that will be applied depends on the type of entity selected.

Linear Dimensioning

Linear dimensions are defined as the dimensions that define the shortest distance between two points. You can apply the linear dimension directly to a line, two points, or two objects.

Aligned Dimensioning

Aligned dimensions are used to dimension lines that are at an angle with respect to the X axis and the Y axis. This type of dimensioning measures the actual distance of the inclined lines.

Angular Dimensioning

Angular dimensions are used to dimension angles. You can select two line segments to apply the angular dimensions or use three points to apply the angular dimensions. You can also use angular dimensioning to dimension an arc.

Angular Dimensioning Using Two Line Segments

You can select two line segments to apply angular dimensions.

Angular Dimensioning Using Three Points

You can also apply angular dimensions using three points.

Choose the Dimension button from the Sketch toolbar. Select the first point using the left mouse button. This is the angle vertex point. Select the second point. A linear dimension is attached to the cursor. Next, select the third point; an angular dimension is attached to the cursor. Place the angular dimension and enter a new value of angular dimension in the Modify edit box. The points that can be used to apply the angular dimensions include the endpoints of lines or arcs, centerpoint of circles, and endpoints of ellipse, parabola, and so on.

Angular Dimensioning of an Arc

You can use angular dimensions to dimension an arc. In case of arcs, the three points that should be used are the endpoints of the arc and the centerpoint of the arc.

Diameter Dimensioning

Diameter dimensions are applied to dimension a circle or an arc in terms of its diameter.

Radius Dimensioning

Radius dimensions are applied to dimension a circle or an arc in terms of its radius.

ADVANCE DIMENSIONING TECHNIQUES

You are able to apply all the possible dimensions to a sketch using a single option. This option is known as Autodimension Sketch.

Autodimension the Sketches

Toolbar: Sketch Relations > Autodimension Sketch (Customize to Add)

Menu: Tools > Dimensions > Autodimension Sketch

The Autodimension Sketch option is used to automatically apply the dimensions to the sketch. You can apply the absolute dimension, incremental dimension, and ordinate dimension using this option.

To apply autodimensions to a sketch, create the sketch using standard sketching tools and then apply the required relations to the sketch. Now, choose Tools > Dimensions > Autodimension Sketch from the menu bar. The Autodimension sketch PropertyManager will display.

The various options available in the Autodimension Sketch PropertyManager are:

Entities to Dimension

The Entities to Dimension rollout is used to specify the entities on which the dimension has to be applied. The All entities in sketch radio button is selected to apply the dimension to all the entities drawn in the current sketching environment. The Selected entities radio button is selected if you have to dimension only the selected entities. When you select this radio button, the Selected Entities to Dimension display area is displayed in the Entities to Dimension rollout.

Horizontal Dimensions

The Horizontal Dimensions rollout is used to specify the type of horizontal dimension, reference for the horizontal dimension, and the dimension placement. The various options available in the Horizontal Dimensions rollout are:

Scheme

The Scheme area is used to specify the type of dimension to be applied to the sketch. The various types of dimensioning schemes available in the Horizontal Dimensioning Scheme drop-down list are discussed below.

Chain

The Chain option is used for the relative or incremental horizontal dimensioning of the sketch. When you invoke the Autodimension sketch PropertyManager and select the scheme, a point or a vertical line is selected as the reference entity. The reference entity is used as a datum for the generation of dimension. The name of selected reference entity is displayed in the Point or Vertical Line on Baseline display area and the reference entity is displayed in red color in the drawing area. You can also specify a user-defined reference entity.

Baseline

The Baseline option is used for absolute or datum vertical dimensioning of the sketch. In this dimensioning method, the dimensions are applied to the sketch with respect to the common datum. When you invoke the Autodimension sketch PropertyManager and select this option, a point or a vertical line is selected as the reference entity, which is used as a datum for the generation of dimension. The name of selected reference entity is displayed in the Point or Vertical Line on Baseline display area and the reference entity is displayed in red color in the drawing area. You can also specify a user defined reference entity.

Ordinate

The Ordinate option is used for the ordinate dimensioning of the sketch. When you invoke the Autodimension Sketch Property

Manager and select this option, a point or a vertical line is selected as the reference entity, which is used as a datum for the generation of dimension. The name of selected reference entity is displayed in the Point or Vertical Line on Ordinate Datum display area and the reference entity is displayed in red color in the drawing area. You can also specify a user defined reference entity.

Dimension placement

The Dimension Placement area of the Horizontal Dimensions rollout is used to define the position where the generated dimensions will be placed. Two radio buttons are available in this area.

The first radio button is the Above sketch radio button and is selected by default. If you use this option, the horizontal dimensions generated using the Autodimension Sketch tool will be placed above the sketch.

The second radio button is the Below sketch. If you select the Below sketch radio button, the generated dimensions will be placed below the sketch.

Vertical Dimensions

The Vertical Dimensions rollout is used to specify the type of vertical dimension, reference for the vertical dimension, and the dimension placement. The various options available in the Scheme area are similar to those discussed under the Horizontal Dimensions rollout. The remaining options are:

Dimension placement

The Dimension Placement area of the Vertical Dimensions rollout is used to define the position where the generated dimensions will be placed.

The Left of the Sketch radio button is selected to place the dimensions on the left of the sketch.

The Right of the Sketch radio button is selected to place the dimensions on the right of the sketch. The Right of the Sketch radio button is selected by default.

After specifying all the parameters in the Autodimension Sketch PropertyManager, choose the OK button or choose the OK icon from the Confirmation Corner.

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Ordinate Dimensioning of Sketches

Menu: Tools > Dimensions > Ordinate

The Ordinate option of dimensioning is extensively used in industry for the dimensioning of shop floor drawings. This is because this type of drawing interprets the drawing in the coordinate form and the coordinates are required as input for the NC and CNC machines. In the ordinate dimensioning you have to define a zero (datum); and all the dimensions will be created with respect to that zero.

If you want ordinate dimensions in the drawing views then you have to create the ordinate dimensions in the sketch itself, because the dimensions created in the sketches and in part mode are generated in drawing mode when you opt for generative dimensioning.

After creating the sketch and applying the required relations to the sketch, choose Tools > Dimensions > Ordinate from the menu bar. The select cursor is replaced by the ordinate dimension cursor. For creating the horizontal ordinate dimension, select a vertical line or a point where you have to define the zero or datum. As soon as you select the line or a point, a dimension is attached to the cursor. Now, move the cursor and place the dimension. This datum dimension is a reference dimension; therefore, you cannot change the value of this dimension. Now, select the line or point using the ordinate dimension cursor; the dimension is automatically placed. Continue selecting points or lines to place ordinate dimensions. After creating all the horizontal ordinate dimensions, choose the Select button. Now, again choose Tools > Dimensions > Ordinate from the menu bar to create the vertical ordinate dimensions. Select a point or a horizontal line to define the zero and then apply the ordinate dimensions to the sketch.

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Choose Tools > Dimensions > Parallel from the menu bar to create the parallel dimension. Using this option you can create the horizontal as well as the vertical dimensions. But you cannot create a aligned dimension using the parallel option.

Choose Tools > Dimensions > Horizontal from the menu bar to create the horizontal dimension. Using this option you can create only the horizontal dimensions. Generally, this option is used to create a horizontal dimension of an aligned line or a horizontal dimension between two points.

Choose Tools > Dimensions > Vertical from the menu bar to create the vertical dimension. Using this option you can create only the vertical dimensions. Generally, this option is used to create a vertical dimension of an aligned line or a vertical dimension between two points.

Dimensioning of the True Length of an Arc

In SolidWorks you can also create the dimension of the true length of an arc, which is one of the advantages of the sketching environment of SolidWorks.

To create the dimension of the true length, invoke the dimension tools and select the arc using the dimension cursor. A radial dimension is attached to the cursor. Move the cursor to any of the endpoints of the arc. When the cursor snaps the endpoint, use the left mouse to specify the first endpoint of the arc. A linear dimension is attached to the cursor; move the cursor to the second endpoint of the arc and when the cursor snaps the endpoint, select it. A dimension is attached to the cursor. Move the cursor to an appropriate place to place the dimension.